Remediation Efforts and Improvements with the Township Storm Team
In 2020, the Township developed a Storm Team to focus on stormwater issues and improvements within the township. They began with proactively inspecting storm sewer assets within planned paving routes, concentrating on sewer basins and pipes. These inspections ensured that any necessary repairs or replacement of pipes were addressed prior to the roads being paved. Since then, over ninety miles of roadways have been repaved, and the underground infrastructure is functioning to its fullest potential. These inspections, as well as many others identified by the Engineering Office, add to the overall work that the team is tasked with in their daily duties. Feasible mitigation efforts to reduce the frequency of the flooding events in the flood prone areas are continuously evaluated and explored.
In the summer of 2023, the Township performed remediation efforts along approximately six hundred feet of Beaver Run, a tributary of Walnut Creek. The efforts were primarily concentrated on the removal of obstructions which had formed within the channel, due to accumulated debris. The material removed included branches, grass clippings, lumber, and other rubbish. The obstructions to flow resulted in additional gravel accumulation within the channel, blocked outlet pipes, and associated up gradient flooding of storm inlets. During the same season, gross accumulation of sediment was removed from the storm conveyances and inlets along West 15 Street, as well as at terminal ends of outlet pipes to Marshall Run. illcreek
MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP NEWS
During the summer of 2024, over nine hundred feet of streambank restoration was completed along Wilkins Run to reduce sediment loading to the stream, and Lake Erie. The project was completed as part of the Township’ s MS4 permit’ s sediment reduction requirements.
Current and Future Stormwater Initiatives and Best Management Practices
The Storm Team is currently evaluating the Wilkins Run watershed for options available to alleviate flooding in th
the area of West 28 Street and Madeira. There are many obstacles to obtaining a solution, due to size of the watershed, limited available real estate, historic stream enclosure, downstream conveyance capacity, and geography of the area. Initial improvements scheduled for 2025 include the relining of 800 + feet of storm sewer that was found to be compromised.. The Township has neither the manpower nor resources to police and maintain every stretch of stream located on private property. Residents can help their neighbors and themselves by ensuring any obstructions located within a watercourse on private property are promptly removed to minimize flooding events and secondary impacts. State and or federal authorization is generally not required for the removal of singular debris, but excavation of the stream bed and channel is a regulated activity.
Another impact to local waterways not to be ignored is associated with an illicit discharge. An illicit discharge is any discharge to a storm sewer system – storm inlet, drain, pipe, ditch – or a stream that is not comprised entirely of stormwater. Illicit discharges may take many forms, including any of the following: sanitary or other waste pipe, disposal of various waste – oil, concrete, chemicals, yard waste, chlorinated pool water, and sediment discharging to a storm system or stream. The disposal of anything other than stormwater to a storm sewer system is illegal. Residents are encouraged to contact the Township should they witness an illicit discharge.
The Millcreek Storm Team
TO REPORT ILLICIT DISCHARGE
MILLCREEK ❘ SUMMER 2025 15